This little tabletop tree is a soft cone covered in six overlapping tiers of scalloped fans. Each fan opens into a rounded shell with dc “spokes” spreading out from one point, and a firm sc rim outlines every scallop. The tiers get narrower toward the top, and a small cream star sits at the peak.
The sample uses one lavender worsted-weight yarn for the whole tree and a cream yarn for the star. It reads as calm, wintry decor rather than bright holiday red and green, so it suits a mantel, a cake stand, or a bookshelf through the whole season.
The pattern uses US crochet terms. The finished tree body is about 7.5 in (19.1 cm) tall and about 6.5 in (16.5 cm) across the bottom scallops. With the star, it stands about 9 in (22.9 cm) tall.
Construction is simple. First you crochet a solid sc cone from the bottom up, in joined rounds, leaving a ring of front loops free at six “ledge” rounds. Then you work a fan round and a scallop rim into each ledge, from the bottom tier to the top. A short base border firms up the open bottom edge. Last, you make a five-point star and sew it to the tip.
Finished Size and Construction
- Finished size: body 7.5 in (19.1 cm) tall, 6.5 in (16.5 cm) across the bottom scallops; about 9 in (22.9 cm) tall with the star
- Skill level: Intermediate
- Terminology: US
- Yarn weight: Worsted (#4)
- Hook: 4.0 mm (G-6)
- Number of pieces: 2 (tree body and star)
- Layout: one cone with 6 stacked fan tiers, plus the star sewn to the tip
- Piece size: cone base 18 in (45.7 cm) around, or about 5.7 in (14.5 cm) across; star about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) wide
- Size before border: 18 in (45.7 cm) around at the base edge
- Border depth: about 0.25 in (0.6 cm), hidden under the Tier 1 fans
Materials
Pick a smooth, plied worsted yarn so the fan spokes and rims show clearly. Cotton or a cotton blend gives the crispest scallops. Acrylic also works and is a little softer. Fuzzy or brushed yarns will blur the texture.
- Lavender (MC): 75 g, about 137 m
- Cream (CC): 8 g, about 15 m
Tools:
- 4.0 mm (G-6) crochet hook
- Tapestry needle
- 6 stitch markers
- Scissors
- Optional: a rolled cardstock cone, or polyester fiberfill plus a 5.5 in (14.0 cm) cardboard circle, for support
- Optional: fabric stiffener for the star
These quantities include about a 15% margin for swatching and tension differences.
Abbreviations (US Terms)
- ch – chain
- sl st – slip stitch
- sc – single crochet
- hdc – half double crochet
- dc – double crochet
- sc2tog – single crochet 2 together
- BLO – back loop only
- FL – front loop
- st(s) – stitch(es)
- sp – space
- rnd(s) – round(s)
Special stitch – Fan: sk 2 FL, 7 dc in next FL, sk 2 FL. Each fan uses 6 front loops, counting the sc that comes after it.
Round rule: every cone round starts with ch 1 (does not count as a st), sc in the same st, and ends with a sl st to the first sc.
Gauge and Checkpoints
Gauge: 16 sc and 18 rnds = 4 in (10.2 cm) in sc worked in joined rounds.
This tree is a single piece, so treat the first 5 rounds as your test. Check them before you go any further.
Checkpoints:
- After Rnd 1: 72 sts, 18 in (45.7 cm) around, about 5.7 in (14.5 cm) across when laid flat as a circle.
- After Rnd 5: about 1.1 in (2.8 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 10: 48 sts, 12 in (30.5 cm) around, about 2.2 in (5.6 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 20: 36 sts, 9 in (22.9 cm) around, about 4.4 in (11.2 cm) tall.
- After Rnd 30: cone closed, about 6.7 in (17.0 cm) tall.
- After Tier 1: each fan is about 1.5 in (3.8 cm) wide and 1 in (2.5 cm) deep.
If the cone is too big: go down to a 3.75 mm (F-5) hook. If it is too small: go up to a 4.5 mm (7) hook. Rip back and restart from the foundation. The fan count only works when Rnd 1 has exactly 72 sts, so change the hook, not the stitch count.
Part 1: The Cone
Use MC.
Foundation: Ch 72. Sl st to the first ch to form a ring, taking care not to twist the chain.
Rnd 1 (Tier 1 ledge): sc in each ch around. (72 sts) Place a marker in this round.
Rnd 2: in BLO, sc 10, sc2tog; repeat from * 5 more times. (66 sts) The front loops of Rnd 1 stay free for the fans.
Rnd 3: sc in each st. (66 sts)
Rnd 4: sc 9, sc2tog 6 times. (60 sts)
Rnd 5: sc in each st. (60 sts)
Rnd 6 (Tier 2 ledge): sc in each st. (60 sts) Place a marker.
Rnd 7: in BLO, sc 8, sc2tog 6 times. (54 sts)
Rnd 8: sc in each st. (54 sts)
Rnd 9: sc 7, sc2tog 6 times. (48 sts)
Rnd 10: sc in each st. (48 sts)
Rnd 11 (Tier 3 ledge): sc in each st. (48 sts) Place a marker.
Rnd 12: in BLO, sc 6, sc2tog 6 times. (42 sts)
Rnds 13–15: sc in each st. (42 sts in each round)
Rnd 16 (Tier 4 ledge): sc in each st. (42 sts) Place a marker.
Rnd 17: in BLO, sc 5, sc2tog 6 times. (36 sts)
Rnds 18–20: sc in each st. (36 sts in each round)
Rnd 21 (Tier 5 ledge): sc in each st. (36 sts) Place a marker.
Rnd 22: in BLO, sc 4, sc2tog 6 times. (30 sts)
Rnds 23–25: sc in each st. (30 sts in each round)
Rnd 26 (Tier 6 ledge): sc in each st. (30 sts) Place a marker.
Rnd 27: in BLO, sc 3, sc2tog 6 times. (24 sts)
Rnd 28: sc 2, sc2tog 6 times. (18 sts)
Rnd 29: sc 1, sc2tog 6 times. (12 sts)
Rnd 30: sc2tog 6 times. (6 sts)
Fasten off and leave a 6 in (15.2 cm) tail. Weave the tail through the front loops of the last 6 sts, pull tight, and secure inside. The cone should now be 6.7 in (17.0 cm) tall, with six rings of free front loops.
Why the ledges work: each ledge round (72, 60, 48, 42, 36, 30) is a multiple of 6, so each one holds a whole number of fans with no leftover loops.
Part 2: The Fan Tiers
Work the tiers from the bottom up: Tier 1 first, Tier 6 last. Hold the cone with the open base toward you. As you work, each fan opens toward the base and folds down over the rounds below it.
Fan Rnd (all tiers): Join MC with a sl st in any free FL of the ledge round. Ch 1, sc in the same FL, Fan, sc in next FL. Repeat from * around, leaving out the last sc. Sl st to the first sc.
Each repeat makes 8 sts: 7 dc and 1 sc. All 7 dc go into one loop, so they spread out from a single point like spokes.
| Tier | Ledge | FL used | Fans | Fan Rnd sts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rnd 1 | 72 | 12 | 96 (84 dc + 12 sc) |
| 2 | Rnd 6 | 60 | 10 | 80 (70 dc + 10 sc) |
| 3 | Rnd 11 | 48 | 8 | 64 (56 dc + 8 sc) |
| 4 | Rnd 16 | 42 | 7 | 56 (49 dc + 7 sc) |
| 5 | Rnd 21 | 36 | 6 | 48 (42 dc + 6 sc) |
| 6 | Rnd 26 | 30 | 5 | 40 (35 dc + 5 sc) |
Don’t fasten off after the Fan Rnd. Go straight on to the Scallop Rim below.
Scallop Rim (all tiers): this is a trim round. You work 1 sc into each of the 7 dc, add 1 extra sc in 3 of them, and sl st into each sc between fans.
- Ch 1. Sl st in the sc between fans, sc in the 1st dc, 2 sc in the 2nd dc, sc in the 3rd dc, 2 sc in the 4th (center) dc, sc in the 5th dc, 2 sc in the 6th dc, sc in the 7th dc. Repeat around and sl st to the first sl st.
- Per fan: (7 sc worked 1 per dc) + (3 extra sc) = 10 sc, plus 1 sl st, for 11 sts.
- Totals: Tier 1: 132 sts. Tier 2: 110. Tier 3: 88. Tier 4: 77. Tier 5: 66. Tier 6: 55.
The 3 increases keep the rim curved so each fan stays a rounded scallop. The sl sts pull the edge in between fans, which makes the dips. Fasten off and weave in the ends on the inside of the cone.
Each tier hangs about 1 in (2.5 cm), and the ledges are 5 rounds, or about 1.1 in (2.8 cm), apart. That means each tier’s rim lands just over the ledge of the tier below and hides the plain cone.
Part 3: The Star
Use CC.
Rnd 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 2 (does not count), 10 hdc in the ring. Pull the ring closed and sl st to the first hdc. (10 sts)
Rnd 2 (points): Ch 5. Starting in the 2nd ch from the hook, sl st, then sc in the next ch, hdc in the next ch, and dc in the last ch. Sk 1 hdc and sl st in the next hdc. Repeat 4 more times. (5 points)
Rnd 3 (outline): Work this round around each point: 4 sc up the side, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the tip, 4 sc down the other side, then sl st in the sl st between points. Each point gets 10 sc, a ch-2 sp, and a sl st. (50 sc, 5 ch-2 sps, 5 sl sts)
The star should be about 2.25 in (5.7 cm) across from tip to tip. Fasten off and leave a 12 in (30.5 cm) tail. If you like, brush on fabric stiffener and let the star dry flat. Then sew the lower point and the back of the center to the cone tip, so the star stands upright and faces forward.
Base Border
The border goes on the open bottom edge. It stops the foundation chain from stretching and gives the tree a neat ring to stand on.
Border gauge: use the same 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm) as the cone. At that gauge, 72 sc = 18 in (45.7 cm), which is an exact match for Rnd 1.
Border Rnd 1: Turn the cone upside down. Join MC in any free loop of the foundation chain. Ch 1, sc in each foundation loop around and sl st to the first sc. (72 sts, 6 per fan above)
Border Rnd 2: sl st loosely in each st around. (72 sts) Fasten off.
Why the math works: the border has one stitch for each foundation chain, so the edge stays 18 in (45.7 cm) around and doesn’t ruffle or pull in. The count of 72 splits into 12 groups of 6, one under each Tier 1 fan. The border adds about 0.25 in (0.6 cm) to the cone, but the Tier 1 scallops still hang below it, so the 7.5 in (19.1 cm) body height stays the same.
Final Blocking
- Lightly spray the whole tree with water until it is damp, not soaked.
- Slide in the support: either a rolled cardstock cone trimmed to 6.7 in (17.0 cm) tall, or fiberfill with the cardboard circle at the base.
- Shape each fan with your fingers. Spread the 7 spokes evenly and roll the rim so it curves outward.
- Press each tier down so its rim sits on the ledge below.
- Check that the bottom scallops measure 6.5 in (16.5 cm) across.
- Let the tree dry fully, standing upright, before you take the support out (or leave it in).
Final Quality-Control Checklist
- Rnd 1 has 72 sts and measures 18 in (45.7 cm) around.
- Six tiers with 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, and 5 fans from bottom to top.
- Every fan has exactly 7 dc spokes and a 10-sc rim.
- No plain cone shows between tiers.
- The border is 72 sts and lies flat.
- The tree body is 7.5 in (19.1 cm) tall, or about 9 in (22.9 cm) with the star.
- The star sits straight and faces forward.
- All ends are woven in on the inside.
Troubleshooting
Fans don’t fit evenly: the ledge count is off. Count the free front loops and fix the round below so the count is a multiple of 6.
Plain cone shows between tiers: your rounds are too tall. Go down a hook size, or make the dc a little tighter.
Scallops look flat: check that you made all 3 increases in each rim. Then block the rims again with more curve.
Cone leans: the decreases are stacking. On each decrease round, shift the sc2tog by 1 st.
Base flares out: work Border Rnd 2 more firmly.
Star points curl: stiffen the star, or press it under a book while it is damp.
Care
Spot clean with cool water and mild soap, then reshape and dry flat or upright. Store the tree upright, or with the support inside, so the scallops keep their shape.
Final Notes
Everything is built on one measurement chain. If you match a gauge of 16 sc = 4 in (10.2 cm), Rnd 1 has 72 sts and measures 18 in (45.7 cm) around. Each ledge (72, 60, 48, 42, 36, 30) divides by 6, so the fan counts come out to 12, 10, 8, 7, 6, and 5. Each fan hangs 1 in (2.5 cm) and the ledges sit 1.1 in (2.8 cm) apart, so the tiers overlap and cover the cone. The 72-st border matches Rnd 1 exactly, so the base stays the same size. In the end you get a 7.5 in (19.1 cm) tree body, or a tree about 9 in (22.9 cm) tall with the star.
Happy crocheting!